Q. Which are the three most important issues in deciding how you would vote at a Federal election?

Total

Vote Labor

Vote Lib/Nat

Vote Greens

Vote other

Jan 2010

Jun 2011

Jul 2012

Jul 2013

Apr 2014

Management of the economy

47%

37%

63%

26%

36%

63%

61%

64%

45%

54%

Ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system

46%

51%

42%

42%

47%

48%

49%

47%

42%

50%

Australian jobs and protection of local industries

39%

42%

37%

21%

55%

33%

32%

41%

39%

37%

Ensuring a fair taxation system

30%

26%

29%

25%

43%

14%

17%

18%

20%

20%

Ensuring a quality education for all children

23%

28%

23%

18%

16%

23%

26%

26%

25%

27%

Housing affordability

21%

25%

16%

18%

26%

14%

16%

13%

17%

17%

Security and the war on terrorism

17%

12%

24%

4%

18%

9%

8%

5%

8%

5%

Protecting the environment

12%

14%

9%

33%

9%

16%

15%

11%

12%

13%

Addressing climate change

10%

12%

4%

41%

3%

16%

15%

9%

11%

10%

Political leadership

9%

9%

10%

8%

7%

23%

17%

25%

21%

15%

A fair industrial relations system

8%

12%

7%

5%

5%

na

8%

12%

10%

12%

Treatment of asylum seekers

8%

7%

5%

36%

6%

na

5%

10%

14%

8%

Controlling interest rates

7%

8%

7%

–

4%

15%

13%

9%

13%

9%

Managing population growth

6%

5%

8%

6%

10%

na

12%

8%

9%

9%

Ensuring a quality water supply

4%

3%

4%

7%

6%

12%

5%

3%

3%

4%

47% of people surveyed rated management of the economy as one of their three most important issues, followed by 46% ensuring the quality of Australia’s health system, 39% Australian jobs and protection of local industries and 30% ensuring a fair tax system.

Main changes since this question was asked in April last year – security and the war on terrorism (up 12%), ensuring a fair tax system (up 10%), managing the economy (down 7%) and political leadership (down 6%).